WXYC Blog

The Feedback Farmers welcomed Al Gore to the programme on June 6th to talk about Global Warming. Yes, that Al Gore. Yes, Global Warming is for real. Hear it for yourself--download the show (30MB MP3). Thanks for dropping by, Mr Gore!

Dr. Leary may have originally introduced the concept of "set and setting" in regards to psychoactive indulgence, but the advice holds relevance far past its psychedelic roots. For the highest level of personal reward in any given situation, both the individual's specific mindframe (the "set") and the surrounding physical environment ("setting") must operate in a certain state of harmony. Such a successful marriage takes precedent in the elegant folk drones of London-based trio Rameses III. The groups glistening soundscapes of guitar and keyboard splendor work to fuse the individual pleasantly within the natural environment, away from big city bustle and floating somewhere between sun-drenched fields and shaded habitations.

The recent output of Spencer Grady (also a regular Dusted contributor), Steve Lewis and Daniel Freeman focuses on squeezing as much beauty out of a given setting as possible. Matanuska, their first proper full-length (released in 2006 along with their acclaimed collaboration with the North Sea), is dominated by images of a towering forest densely populated with ancient trees - inspired by the beams of sunlight that managed to penetrate the overgrowth. The first chords of the album's opener, "Before the Rains Fall (For Ed Cooke)," creep out of rumbling thunder, incorporating the natural sound into a tug-of-war of light and darkness, reconciling the two with grace. Each guitar pluck, each keyboard addition, each ghostly vocal is approached with a contemplated gentility, restraining the swells and constructing a musical pillow of shifting harmony. The drones come in deep pulses, augmented by ever-present bird-calls that place the listener in the cultivated sylvan scene. Fragile harmonies grow steadily into malleable matter and sink slowly into the background as the tones take shape, simply existing as a meaningful and meaningless part of everything.

The setting for the groups latest EP is a film set, appropriately enough. Honey Rose serves as the soundtrack to Jon Spiras short film "Suityman," images from which don the albums cover, placing the music in a golden field of tall weeds and slow-motion breezes. A repeating guitar theme unifies the album's six tracks, popping in and out through three different incarnations over the course of a fleeting 23-minutes. The overall brevity of the pieces is the major downside to Honey Rose, which would benefit from some time to expand and settle into the sonic introductions. But given its function as a short film soundtrack, the more concise approach taken here can be forgiven. The sparkling tones within provide a fitting backdrop for peaceful isolation and a glimpse of lazy nirvana achieved among swaying cattails.

It is the groups emphasis on allowing the music to weave itself into the surrounding atmosphere that succeeds the most. Set and setting combine, guitar resonance blends with thoughts, and, for a moment, the seam between physical and non-physical becomes too small to see. Or even matter at all. I'm sure Leary would approve.

I've been wanting to do this for a while, so I finally did it. I created a blog for my radio show, sometimes called Hostile Gospel. There, I plan to post playlists, reviews, and MP3 excerpts from my show and other tidbits I can round up.

The lost episode is now found thanks to a listener in Paraguay who recorded the show and provided this MP3 of the programme. Just in time for the Christmas 2007 shopping season, because, really, you can't start your holiday shopping too early.

Either the days are getting longer or Feedback Farm is just getting more tedious.

The Feedback Farmers got a jumpstart on the summer season last night with an homage to the hot months ahead. Interested in the latest fashions and vacation destinations?--Look elsewhere. If you want to hear a remix of the summer that hasn't even happened yet or to win tickets to Summer Jam 2004, click here (32 MB MP3).

Also, we're tracking visits to this website. To make things easy on you, if you download this week's Feedback Farm episode, DON'T leave a comment. That way we'll know you were here and you won't have to do anything. Easy, right?

The Rolling Stones, arguably the last surviving great rock-and-roll band, were feted on the WXYC's Feedback Farm tonight. It would be impossible to adequately salute their 40+ year career (and still going) in 60 minutes, but true to their style, the Farmers tried their best. It helps when you play 5 recordings at once.

Hear the Farm treatment of Mick, Keith, and the boys for yourself. Download the programme here (30 MB MP3). Excuse the Audioslave.

After first being exposed to Vibracathedral Orchestra in 2005 through their fantastic album Tuning to the Rooster, I was totally hooked on the UK group's wild excursions into clamorous psychedelia. Much to my excitement, they just released their latest full-length album, Wisdom Thunderbolt, on VHF records and it is as spectacular as their output usually is. I've started writing reviews for Dusted magazine, and this is one of the first album's I've reviewed for them, published today. You can read it here. I'll post more reviews as I get them done, so stay tuned if you're interested.

"The Pride" of Latta, South Carolina, former UNC point guard of the 2005 UNC National Championship team, and current Charlotte Bobcat, Raymond "The Truth" Felton was interviewed by Bret Dougherty on a "Special Edition SportsRap" session yesterday.Check out the interview here.

Special kudos goes out to Neil, the 6-9AM DJ, on Thursday. Very impressive set that precluded the interview...The freshman phenom kept it "local" with cuts by Little Brother, Edgar Allen Floe, and the classic 'Criminal Minded' of Boogie Down Productions.

The solid piece of the interview is that Bret Dougherty asked Felton if he would guarantee a playoff appearance for next year. The answer...Same guarantee rests for Felton next season, he's guaranteeing a playoff appearance. Bold call from the young gunna'!

Check back in to SportsRap on Sundays between 9-10PM.

Special thanks to Raymond for joining us on the show. Now, if we can get Raymond to rock a WXYC 'T' with the number 2 emblazoned on the back. That would be Chapel Hill love.

P.S. Felton swears he's not wolfing Chick-Fill-A Chicken sandwiches on gamedays anymore. What a shame...His pre-game meals placed him as a Honorable Mention Selection on the "All-Lenoir" team.